Mahogany, 4 years, from the series Selling Venus/Vénus au miroir, 2003

C-print on paper

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Raised in St. Boniface, Winnipeg, and schooled at the University of Manitoba and the Milton Avery Graduate School of the Arts at Bard College, New York, Dominique Rey’s working process begins with immersing herself within the environment she is currently investigating. The Selling Venus/Vénus au miroir project originated in a striptease club in Osaka, Japan, and continued at the Crazy Horse Gentlemen’s Club in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. During her time in both places, Rey went behind the scenes to extensively interview her subjects. The resulting photographs of these women, such as Mahogany, offer an intimate portrayal of how they emphasize their beauty and transform themselves into performers, using makeup, jewelry, and clothing.